Mavericks notes: Devin Harris unsure when he’ll be OK to play

For the past six games, Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris has been a spectator, unable to do the things that have helped define his career.

A sprained left great toe, which occurred Jan. 24 in a game against Houston, has left Harris in a position where he really doesn’t know when he’ll be able to play basketball again. And that’s the frustrating part of a journey that has left the Mavericks’ best backcourt defender on the bench in street clothes.

“I’m hanging in there,” Harris said Friday. “I really don’t have a timetable [to return to the court].”

Harris went to New York on Thursday and visited the specialist who did the surgery on his left foot in the summer of 2014. Although that surgery was on a different toe, Harris wanted to get some input from the doctor familiar with the issues he had with his left foot.

“I’ve got everything I needed — he gave me some options,” Harris said. “We’re trying the first option, which is less aggressive than the second option. And if it works, great, and if not, then we’ve got to move on and try something else. I’m on a different set of medication, and hopefully, I can kind of take care of the problem that I’m having.”

The pain is what is hampering Harris the most.

“It’s more nerve in the toe than the actual bone itself, so any time I put on a shoe and any time there’s pressure, I have pain and I’m unable to push off,” Harris said. “I’m doing some things to kind of hopefully calm that pain down, and the sooner that happens the sooner I can play.”

Harris averages 7.4 points and 2.1 assists per game, and is a pit bull on defense

“We miss one of our better competitors — speed and quickness, ability to attack the paint and take on defensive challenges,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “It’s a loss, there’s no question about that.”

Since Harris has undergone surgery on the same foot, his concern level is high.

“I have a lot [of concern], but I’m confident that I can come back,” Harris said. “I went [to New York] and saw the doctor that did the surgery, we’re going to try some different things and hopefully those will work out.

“I’m confident that we’re moving in the right [direction]. Obviously, I’m shooting today. So hopefully we’re moving in the right direction.”

Harris did not play Friday night at home against the San Antonio Spurs, and he won’t make the trip to Memphis for Saturday’s game. The only other game the Mavericks have before the All-Star break is at home Tuesday against the Utah Jazz.

After that, Dallas won’t play again until Feb. 19 in Orlando, Fla.

Harris said it might be more prudent to simply wait until the Orlando game.

“But like I said, once the pain is free, there’s nothing else preventing me from really playing,” Harris said. “It’s very frustrating. I want to be out there. It’s tough, because when I’m barefoot I don’t have any pain, so that’s a little bit frustrated.

“But when I put shoes on, obviously, I’m dealing with a whole other issue. Like is said, I just got to be patient and just keep the route that I’m on.”

Shorter season

Earlier this week, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said playing back-to-back games and five games in seven days can be eliminated if the season is extended by 10 days. But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich isn’t in favor of an extension.

“I’ll be on vacation,” Popovich said. “I don’t want to extend it for a minute. I want the same salary. I want them to shorten [the season] in half.”

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 10:15 PM with the headline "Mavericks notes: Devin Harris unsure when he’ll be OK to play."